Gas-gun.



D. SAYL'ER.

GAS GUN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 19:5.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

lmuawtoz DANIEL SAYLER, OF ORLAND, CALIFORNIA GAS-GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed February 12, 1915. Serial No. 7,778.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL SAY LER, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Orland, in the county of Glenn and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to guns in which the force of an exploding gas is utilized to project the bullet and has for its primary object the provision of a structure wherein means is provided for preventing movement of the bullet while the gas is compressed by suitable mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for compressing the gas prior to it being ignited, said means being so provided that any movement thereof when the explosion takes place is prevented.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through the gun. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modification.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the barrel of the gun having its bore 2 communicating with a gas chamber 3. The wall of the bore 2 at its juncture with the wall of the gas chamber being swelled as shown at 4 so as to limit the inward -movementof the bullet 5. Attention is called to the fact that by having the end of the bore formed as shown, the bullet is frictionally held against displacement so that the gas within the chamber can be slightly compressed.

Suspended from the under surface of the barrel 1 is a fuel reservoir 6, communicating by way of a passage 7 with a mixing chamber 8. Positioned in the passage is a spring pressed valve 9 so arranged that the weight of the liquid in the fuel reservoir will not unseat it, but immediately the air pressure on one side is reduced, the valve will unseat for allowing the gas to pass through the passage. The mixing chamber communicates with the gas chamber by way of a valve controlled passage 10. The mixing chamber also communicates with the atmosphere by a passage 11 under the control of a valve 12 whereby the amount of oxygen fed to the mixing chamber can be regulated.

Passing through the stock of the un so as to have its terminals positioned 1n the gas chamber, is a spark plug 13 electrically connected to a circuit closer 14: by way of wires 15. This circuit closer is shaped somewhat like the well known form of trigger, and as shown comprises a bowed metallic member 16 and a resilient metallic finger 17 which are supported upon an insulating plate 18. Upon pressure being applied to the finger 17 it is forced into contact with the member 16 thus closing the circuit through the spark plug which receives its energy from a battery 18 housed in the stock of the gun.

Slidably mounted in the gas chamber is a plunger 19 connected to a rod 20. This rod 20 passes out through the wall of the expansion chamber so as to have attached thereto a finger piece 21 whereby the plunger can be reciprocated within the chamber for putting the gas under pressure.

Projecting laterally from the rod is a pair of lugs 22 adapted when the plunger is in one position to contact with the wall of the gas chamber so as to prevent movement of the plunger when the expansion takes place, slots 23 being formed in the wall of the chamber to allow free movement of the plunger when the lugs are turned to register therewith. When the gas is ignited, its volume increases very rapidly irrespective of whether it is compressed or not,

although it is a well known fact that the efficiency thereof is increased when compressed. The friction between the bullet and the surface of the bore allows the gas to be slightly compressed, but if in practice it becomes necessary that the pressure of the gas be increased, I provide a pair of springs 24 seated in the wall of the bore of the barrel. These springs prevent movement of the bullet until an excessive pressure is created by the gas being ignited.

To operate the gun, the plunger is drawn rearwardly so as to suck in the charge of gas into the gas chamber where it is compressed upon movement of the plunger in the opposite direction. The gas is now under pressure and when the bullet is to be projected, the resilient finger 15 is thrown into contact with the member 16 which energizes the spark which ignites the gas.

This rapid expansion of the gas causes the bullet to rapidly leave the bore of the gun.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas gun comprising a barrel having a bore and a gas chamber communicating therewith, a fuel reservoir attached to the under surface of said barrel, a stock having formed therein valve controlled passages for establishing communication between the gas chamber, fuel reservoir, and the atmosphere, a plunger slidablymounted in the gas chamber, means for limiting the movement of said plunger, a spark plug arranged in the gas chamber, an electric circuit connected thereto, a pair of contacts arranged in said circuit and shaped into the form of a gun trigger and guard, and a source of current for the circuit.

2. A gas gun comprising a barrel having a bore and a gas chamber communicating therewith, a fuel reservoir attached to the under surface of said barrel, a stock having formed therein valve controlled passages for establishing communication between the gas chamber, fuel reservoir, and the atmosphere, a plunger slidably mounted in thev gas chamber, said chamber having an opening and a pair of slots communicating therewith, a rod connected to said plunger and slidably mounted in the opening, a pair of lugs projecting laterally from said rod and adapted to pass through said slots and en-, gaging the interior surface of the gas chamber, a spark plug arranged in the gas cham ber, an electric circuit connected thereto, a pair of contacts arranged in said circuit and shaped into the form of a gun trigger and guard, and a source of current for the circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL SAYLER'.

Witnesses:

W. E. SCEARLE, (1. V. THOMPSON. 

